J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone

Last updated date: July 16, 2019

DWYM Score

9.7

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Overall Take

J.K. Rowling’s "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone: The Illustrated Edition" has detailed, fascinating pictures for readers to enhance their imaginations. The book also contains a captivating storyline for young adults to escape to while reading. Phenomenal pictures, excellent plot and lovable characters complement each other for a fantastic picture book experience.
In our analysis of 87 expert reviews, the J.K. Rowling J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone placed 1st when we looked at the top 10 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

Editor's Note August 12, 2019:Checkout The Best Picture Book for a detailed review of all the top picture books.

Expert Summarized Score

9.6

10 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.8

2,908 user reviews

Our Favorite Video Reviews

What experts liked

The illustrations are so beautiful in this new edition that to go back to the originals would feel like downgrading my phone. Sure, those original books will always hold sentimental value, but as people who’ve already read those copies numerous times, it’s time for something new — and yet completely familiar.

I must say, the illustrations are gorgeous! They are a combination of sketches and watercolor that suits the book so perfectly. I thought the portrayals of the characters, particularly Harry and Ron, were perfect. And while there were a few illustrations I’d been hoping to see and didn’t get, and a few places I thought didn’t really need them, overall, the art in this book is incredible!

I really enjoyed his illustrations and it was interesting to see how he interpreted the looks of people, places, and objects described in the book without letting the movies affect his interpretations of such things. The illustrations weren’t just drawn copies of photos from the movies, they were unique illustrations based off of what original readers must’ve imagined as they read these books before the movies ever existed.

The illustrations themselves are gorgeous and I think that Kay really knocked it out of the park with his interpretations and art style. I spent a ton of time simply staring at each one looking for all the small details that he skillfully added in and even letting others look at them to see if they spotted anything I didn’t.

This is the type of Harry Potter collectible that is completely and utterly worth the cost. The illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is stunningly imagined. The book is quite large – roughly 11 x 10 – and very thick.

Jim Kay has done a masterful job with the illustrations. They are beautiful. I am amazed that he has managed to create these images. They are wholly new, yet at the same time remain true to both the drawings in the original editions and the sets and actors from the movies.

What experts didn't like

I’ve noticed that, as I study literature and publishing, I’ve become more critical of books, so these are probably not things everyone would notice. But I do want to mention them. First of all, there is a typo on page 15. Just an extra space between the w and the a in the word want, but its definitely there. I know typos happen, and normally, they don’t bug me (I just get really excited when I find them, because I’m a huge nerd). But this one did. And it’s because this is such a special book, I think they should have maybe taken a bit more time with making sure it was perfect before printing it.

The one image I had issue with, and yes there was only one, was the image that of Snape. I just didn’t get the potions room…it looked less like a dark, dank, apothecary and more like a chamber of horrors.

On the inside, it’s not as Americanized as the other non-illustrated editions that were published in the US. Yes, the stone is called the “Sorcerer’s Stone” and not the “Philosopher’s Stone” like in the UK versions, but other than that, it seems to be very British. There’s nothing wrong with that, in fact I’ve always wanted to own the British versions myself, but it made it hard when reading it out loud to my son. I stumbled on several of the words myself (like how Harry, Ron, and Hermione would “revise” for their exams instead of “study”) and I had to explain a lot to my son.

From The Manufacturer

Gr 4–7—Whether they're committed Potterheads who grew up reading the world-changing fantasy series or children just old enough to enjoy the stories for the very first time, readers will want to pore over this stunning illustrated edition, which features the full and unabridged text (with the exception of the title, the text is from the original British edition). From the dark and stormy endpapers to the ink-sploshed pages to Kay's expressive pencil and watercolor illustrations adorning almost every page, the story of Harry's humble beginnings with the wretched Dursleys, the arrival of his letter from Hogwarts, and his first adventures as "the boy who lived" come to brilliant life in this beautiful—and beautifully designed—edition. Though the size and heft might make library circulation somewhat challenging, this is a fantastic gift.—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal

An Overview On Picture Books

There is nothing like enjoying the fascination of a child when you read to them from a picture book. Whether you cozy up under a blanket on a couch or read by a flashlight in a tent, your audience is sure to find joy in reading their favorite picture book over and over again. Picture books are a great combination of beautiful art (art is in the eye of the beholder) and compelling prose. There are only a few things that a good picture book needs, and you will certainly know when you’ve found a good one!

As a reader and true appreciator of a picture book, you’ll automatically find several things that make you love a picture book. First is the story. There is nothing better than a good story, and if it is good, it will certainly stick in your mind and keep you wanting to read the same book time after time. Kids often hold on to stories that are relatable — like “Goodnight Moon,” which is a story of something they can easily identify in the sky when they say goodnight. On the other hand, picture books for young adults or teens might have a story of things that are out of this world and magical, such as “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone: Illustrated Edition.”

Next, readers and onlookers alike will find that when the words and the art perfectly complement each other, the picture book will be a winner. In “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt, you’ll find a kid-friendly storyline with child-like drawings for the pictures. This children’s book masters the playful give and take of the words with the pictures.

Lastly, the best picture books will yield that encore shouting from your little ones when you get to the end. That yearning for a reread is a surefire sign of a fantastic picture book. You will find that in “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae and “Dragons Love Tacos” by Adam Rubin.

Find that fun reading time with your kiddos when you pull these awesome picture books off the bookshelf and snuggle in for some quality time with them.

DWYM Fun Fact

The first children’s book with illustrations was “Orbis Sensualium Pictus” or “The World of Things Obvious to the Senses Drawn in Pictures.” It was written in 1658 by John Comenius, a Czech native. He wrote it in Latin, but with excellent drawings throughout of the most common things known to man, from animals to insects, scenery and even breathe from a man’s mouth. It was quite popular and became implemented in some schools as well.

Although it was popular then, most homes do not contain a copy of this book for their children. Research from 2001 shows that “The Poky Little Puppy” by Janette Sebring Lowrey was the number one selling picture book in history with over 14,800,000 copies sold (at that point). This book was atop a list with books by multiple famous authors such as Dr. Seuss, J.K. Rowling and Beatrix Potter.

The Picture Book Buying Guide

One thing to keep in mind when buying a good picture book is your audience. Do your kids like a specific topic such as animals, vehicles or insects? And always keep their age in mind as you look for a good picture book.

Read the book summary before buying it to give you an idea of the story, and flip through the pages to check out the art.

Look for reviews from other readers.

Use your best resources: family and friends’ suggestions.

Make a visit to your local library and ask a librarian for suggestions. If your kiddo loves a book you read from the library, you can buy it to add to your child’s personal library.

Interactive picture books are a fantastic way to get children to love picture books. Even if the book doesn’t have flaps or touch-and-feel features, you can make a book interactive by asking the child to find a hidden object or dance like the characters in the book. Make it fun for them so they want to read the book again.